A NATURALISTIC STUDY OF TRAZODONE IN THE TREATMENT OF BEHAVIORAL COMPLICATIONS OF DEMENTIA

Altered serotonin transmission has been associated with behavioral com plications of degenerative dementia, This study examined whether trazo done, a serotonergic antidepressant, may be useful in treating behavio ral syndromes associated with dementia. Twenty-two dementia patients w ith behavioral problems were treated with trazodone (mean daily dose 1 72 +/- 107 mg; mean duration 20 days). Severity of cognitive impairmen t and behavioral symptoms were rated using the Mini-Mental State Exami nation (MMSE), the Global Assessment Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. A global asses sment of improvement was made by chart review. Mean scores, with the e xception of the MMSE, improved modestly but significantly between admi ssion and discharge. Chart review of target symptoms revealed that 82% of the patients showed moderate-to-marked improvement on discharge, w ith most able to return to their preadmission residence. Trazodone was generally well tolerated except for occasional mild sedation effects. Results suggest that trazodone may be a useful alternative to neurole ptics or benzodiazepines in treating behavior problems in some demente d patients.